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Back to health libraryTweak your child’s bedtime routine
Just like you, kids need their sleep. But come bedtime, that can be a challenge for toddlers and preschoolers. Help your child catch some ZZZs with these bedtime adjustments.
Sleep tight, little one
6 ways to help your child sleep
1. Let your child sleep with a stuffed animal. Make sure it's free of buttons and other choking hazards.
2. Build a sleepy habit. Keep the same bedtime every night.
3. Dim the lights. Turn off bright lights close to bedtime.
4. Help your child wind down. Read a bedtime story or sing a lullaby.
5. Keep the room on the cool side. Ensure that the room isn't too hot or too cold.
6. Head off bedtime disruptions. Offer water or a night light if your child often leaves bed to request these things.
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Reviewed 7/28/2025
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. "Toddler Bedtime Trouble: 7 Tips for Parents." https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sleep/Pages/bedtime-trouble.aspx.
- National Sleep Foundation. "Children and Sleep." https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep.